Vaping in Massachusetts schools

Eli Sherman Wicked Local @Eli_Sherman

Monday

Nov 5, 2018 at 6:22 AMNov 9, 2018 at 3:59 PM

It’s no small secret vaping happens at a school near you. Nearly 50 percent of Massachusetts high-school students and nearly 10 percent of middle-school students reported having used some type of electronic-vapor product.

It’s no small secret vaping happens at a school near you.

In 2015, nearly 50 percent of Massachusetts high-school students and nearly 10 percent of middle-school students reported having used some type of electronic-vapor product. And inhaling vaporized liquid through an electronic, battery-powered device has only become more prevalent, especially with the surging popularity of the brand name JUUL, raising serious health concerns.

“The popularity of JUUL among kids threatens our progress in reducing youth e-cigarette use,” said Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We are alarmed that these new high-nicotine-content e-cigarettes, marketed and sold in kid-friendly flavors, are so appealing to our nation’s young people.”

Despite its widespread popularity, however, there remains a lot of confusion related to vaping, which has surpassed cigarette use among middle- and high-school students.

The devices are also referred to by brand name, including JUUL and Blu.

Vaping products are sold in nearly 8,000 flavors, such as mango, mint and cinnamon. They can be found at gas stations, pharmacies and package stores. Some devices can also be used to consume marijuana vapor.

The patent for e-cigarettes dates back to the 1960s, but vaping has only really become popular within the last decade.

Massachusetts in 2018 passed a law making the age to purchase vaping products 21 years old.

Where is it coming from?

As of 2018, JUUL, a San Francisco startup valued at $15 billion, accounted for two-thirds of the U.S. e-cigarette market.

There are hundreds of other e-cigarette companies trying to establish a foothold in the lucrative emerging market, but JUUL undeniably leads the way, earning its own verb -- “juuling.”

Sales of JUUL, which sells e-cigarettes shaped like USB flash drives, grew more than sevenfold from 2016 to 2017, according to an Oct. 2 report by the CDC.

The company bills itself as the smoking alternative, and insists its target consumer group is adults.

“Of course, we understand that parents and lawmakers are concerned about underage use of JUUL. As are we. We can’t restate this enough,” CEO Kevin Burns wrote in an open letter to JUUL customers. “As an independent company that is not big tobacco, we are driven by our mission and commitment to adult smokers. We believe sharing facts and education around youth is extremely important.”

But its popularity among teens, nonetheless, has triggered multiple investigations, including one in Massachusetts.

Attorney General Maura Healey in July 2018 announced an investigation into JUUL and other companies over concerns about marketing and sales to minors.

“Just when teen cigarette use has hit a record low, juuling and vaping have become an epidemic in our schools with products that seem targeted to get young people hooked on nicotine,” said Healey.

Is it dangerous?

The general consensus among the scientific community is that vaping -- as it’s understood today -- is less dangerous than smoking cigarettes, the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

That’s not to say, however, vaping is safe, as nicotine in any form remains a powerfully habit-forming drug.

A 2013 study shows inhaling nicotine through non-conventional cigarettes -- such as e-cigarettes -- may contribute to heart disease, while other reports suggest some e-cigarettes contain high levels of toxic chemicals, along with particles that cause lung disease.

The levels, however, tend to be much lower than cigarettes.

“We found that the e-cigarette vapours contained some toxic substances. The levels of the toxicants were 9–450 times lower than in cigarette smoke,” according to one report.

Widespread anecdotal evidence shows e-cigarettes have helped long-time smoking adults addicted to nicotine kick the deadly habit. But state and federal regulators -- for the time being -- are looking beyond adults, and focusing on the potential danger to younger populations.

According to the CDC, the use of nicotine can harm developing adolescent brains, alter how the brain build synapses and increase the risk for future addiction to other drugs. There’s also a concern that scientists still don’t know a lot about the long-term health effects related to vaping.

“There are no redeeming benefits of e-cigarettes for young people,” said Corinne Graffunder, director of CDC Office on Smoking and Health.

For students, parents and schools

The Massachusetts Department of Health in 2018 launched a statewide public information campaign to educate students, parents and school administrators “about the dangers of vape pens and e-cigarettes.”

The state urges parents to learn everything possible about vaping products and then to talk with their children about the potential risks involved.

“Talking with your kids about vaping is one of the most important things you can do,” according to the campaign, dubbed “The New Look of Nicotine Addiction.”

At the same time, health officials urge school administrators to review and strengthen school tobacco policies, educate staff and engage parents.

“Nicotine can be dangerous for the developing adolescent brain, negatively impacting learning, memory and attention,” wrote Dr. Monica Bharel, DPH commissioner, and Jeffrey C. Riley, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in a September 2018 letter to school administrators.

The campaign created a toolkit for schools, which can be found on its website www.getoutraged.org.

“E-cigarette use among young people is on the rise in the state,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders in July. “It is important that we educate parents about the risks associated with these products and empower young people to make informed decisions about their health.”

Eli Sherman is an investigative and in-depth reporter at Wicked Local and GateHouse Media. Email him at esherman@wickedlocal.com, or follow him on Twitter @Eli_Sherman.